tony

1 of 2

adjective

ˈtō-nē 

variants or less commonly toney

tonier; toniest

: marked by an aristocratic or high-toned manner or style

tony private schools

Tony

2 of 2

noun

To·​ny ˈtō-nē 

plural Tonys

: a medallion awarded annually by a professional organization for notable achievement in the theater

Examples of tony in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Hers is the type of tony background many democrats have been running away from lately. — Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

Tubi Inside Man (2006) Spike Lee’s labyrinthine thriller stars Denzel Washington as a hostage negotiator and Clive Owen as a bank robber holding customers hostage in a tony Manhattan branch. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026

One of the most interesting things, however, is that this tony facility’s guests were not merely those staying here or competing. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026

The hotel was only an eight-minute drive from the Bucks’ house on Mason’s Island, a tony community on the water. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Tony, nickname of Antoinette Perry †1946 American actress & producer

First Known Use

Adjective

1877, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1947, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tony

• boney
• boni
• bony
• coney
• crony
• monie
• mony
• phoney
• phony
• stoney
• stony
• toney